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In the Department of Biological and Environmental Science in the
University of Jyväskylä we are studying the origin of
viruses and the role of viruses in the evolution of primordial life
forms.
The very first viruses have emerged hand in hand with cellular life
and thus understanding of the origin of viruses is closely related to
the origin of life. What were the ecological and environmental
conditions where viruses and cells arose? What was the influence of
early viruses on the emergence and evolution of cells? Can complex
life emerge in absence of viruses? To these questions we seek answers
by studying the viruses of bacteria and archaea and by simulating the
evolution of viruses and cells in vitro and in silico.
The group is part of professor Jaana Bamford's research group.
